GRADE AND FILL PERMIT GUIDELINES
City of Anacortes Building Department
P.O. Box 547 Anacortes, WA 98221 - Street Address: 904 6th Street
Phone: (360) 293-1901 Fax: (360) 293-1938
Appendix Chapter 33 – Excavation and Grading (Excerpt from Full Code Book Located at City Hall)
Section 3306 – Permits Required
Ordinance No. 3306.1 Except as specified in Section 3306.2 (see below) no person shall do any grading/clearing
without first having obtained a grading permit from the City of Anacortes.
A Grading permit is not required for the following:
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When approved by the City of Anacortes, grading in an isolated, self-contained area if there is no
danger to private or public property.
An excavation below finished grade for basements and footings of a building, retaining wall or other
structure authorized by a valid building permit. This shall not exempt any fill made with the material
from excavation or exempt any excavation having an unsupported height greater than 5 feet after the
completion of such structure.
Cemetery graves.
Refuse disposal sites controlled by other regulations.
Excavations for well, tunnel, or utilizes.
Mining, quarrying, excavation, processing or stockpiling of rock, sand, gravel, aggregate or clay where
established and provided for by law, provided such operations do not affect the lateral support of
increase the stresses in or pressure upon any adjacent or contiguous property.
Exploratory excavations under the direction of soil engineers or engineering geologists.
An excavation that (1) is less than 2 feet in depth or (2) does not create a cut slope greater than 5 feet
in height and steeper than 1 unit vertical in 1-1/2 units horizontal (66.7%) slope.
A fill less than 1 foot in depth and placed on natural terrain with a slope flatter than 1 unit vertical in 5
units horizontal (20%) slope, or less than 3 feet in depth, not intended to support structures, that does
not exceed 50 cubic yards on any one lot and does not obstruct a drainage course.
Exemptions from the permit requirements of this chapter shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work
to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this chapter or any other laws or ordinances of this
jurisdiction. (Please check with the Planning Division should you have any questions).
3309.8 Regular Grading Permit Requirements. Each application for a grading permit shall be accompanied
by a plan in sufficient clarity to indicate the nature and extent of the work. The plans shall give the location of
work, the name of the owner and the name of person who prepared the plan. The plan shall include the
following information:
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A complete application
Vicinity Map
5 each
Site plans which shall include the following:
 Location of any buildings and/or impervious surfaces (driveways, parking lots,
sport courts, etc.) where work is to be performed and the location of any
buildings or structures within 25 feet of the proposed grading.
 Location of any existing wells and/or septic systems
 Existing topography
 Dimensions and depth of cuts and fills (Include proposed quantities of cuts,
exports and imports)
Indicate the nature and extent of work
North Arrow
Property lines and dimensions/copy of recent boundary survey
Show all streams, wetlands, ponds, etc.
Include SEPA* checklist if required
Include any additional agency permit documentations (i.e.: HDPA, WSDOT,
Skagit County, etc.)
 Soils engineering report if required by the City Engineer/Building Official
 Drainage analysis if required by the City Engineer/Building Official
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*Grading Requirements for more than 500 Cubic Yards
If the grading involves 500 or more cubic yards, a SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) review shall be applied for.
The Planning Division can provide you with the necessary forms. (The fee for SEPA is $400.00) For questions
contact Planning Department at 293-1907.
Grading in excess of 1,000 cubic yards shall be performed in accordance with an approved grading plan
prepared by a Licensed Washington State Civil Engineer.
Plan Review Fees. When a plan or other data are required to be submitted, plan review fees shall be paid at the
time of submitting plans and specifications for review. Said plan review fee shall be as set forth in Table A-33-A.
Separate plan review fees shall comply with retaining walls or major drainage structures as required, and as
determined by the City Engineer. For excavation and fill on the same site, the fee shall be based on the volume of
the excavation or fill, whichever is greater.
50 cubic yards or less
No fee
51 to 100 cubic yards
$23.50
101 to 1,000 cubic yards
$37.00
1,001 to 10,000 cubic yards
$49.25
10,001 to 100,000 cubic yards - $49.25 for the first 10,000 cubic yards plus $24.50 for each additional 10,000 cubic
yards or fraction thereof.
100,001 to 200,000 cubic yards - $269.75 for the first 100,000 cubic yards plus $13.25 for each additional 10,000
cubic yards or fraction thereof.
200,001 cubic yards or more - $402.25 for the first 200,000 cubic yards plus $7.25 for each additional 10,000 cubic
yards or fraction thereof.
Other fees: Additional plan review required by changes, additions, or revisions to approved plans @ $50.50 per
hour, (minimum charge one (1) hour).
Grading Permit Fees. A fee for each grading permit shall be paid to the City of Anacortes as set forth in Table A-33B. Separate permits and fees shall apply to retaining walls, or major drainage structures as required. There shall be
no separate charge for standard terrace drains and similar facilities.
50 cubic yards or less
$23.50
51 to 100 cubic yards
$37.00
101 to 1,000 cubic yards - $37.00 for the first 100 cubic yards plus $17.50 for each additional 100 cubic yards or
fraction thereof.
1,001 to 10,000 cubic yards – 194.50 for the first 1,000 cubic yards plus $14.50 for each additional 1,000 cubic yards
or fraction thereof.
10.001 to 100,000 cubic yards - $325.00 for the first 10,000 cubic yards plus $66.00 for each additional 10,000 cubic
yards or fraction thereof.
100,001 cubic yards or more - $919.00 for the first 100,000 cubic yards plus $36.50 for each additional 10,000 cubic
yards or fraction thereof.
Other fees: Additional inspections outside normal business hours @ $50.50 per hour (minimum charge two
(2) hours). Re-inspection fees assessed @ $50.50 per hour (minimum charge (1) hour).
Revised Nov. 9, 2012
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